Liverpool is blessed with so many different characters, both past and present and we are certainly not short of celebrities. From sports stars to musicians and actors, the list can go on of the people who continue to make the city proud.
So many people have left their mark on the world after humble beginnings in Liverpool, With the Beatles probably springing to mind, and more recently Hollywood superstar Jodie Comer. The city continues to see new talent break-through all the time, while the legacy of our legends continues.
The schools that we attended growing up may have had some of the city’s famous faces as pupils, before they found fame. Across the city, there are plenty of proud establishments that have nurtured students into stars.
We have rounded up some celebrities that call Liverpool “home” and what school they attended. In some instances, people have kept a close bond with their school and in every case, the school has shared its immense pride at being the secondary school of these celebrities.
Jamie Carragher
The former Liverpool defender was a pupil at Savio Salesian College. Jamie has returned to the school on several occasions to give awards out to pupils on sports ceremony evenings. He has continued to support the school in various ways over the years.
Back in 2016, Carragher took former teammate Jason McAteer to his old stomping ground at the Bootle high school. On his return to the school in 2016, the pundit said: “It’s always very rewarding for me to come back here and obviously I’m really pleased to see how well Savio is progressing.”
In 2021, while on holiday in Ibiza, Jamie bumped into a couple of old school teachers with his wife Nicola. He shares a picture to Instagram Stories of the four together. The school shared the sweet image to their own social media accounts, saying: “It’s fantastic to see Savio alumni coming together. Thanks to Savio Hall of Famer, Jamie Carragher.”
Alex Greenwood
The Lioness also attended Savio Salesian College, and like Jamie has regularly returned to the school for sports awards evenings and to hand awards out to pupils. The Euro 2025 finalist is known for her strong links to her hometown. She was immortalised with a 22ft mural on Stanley Road, just a stone’s throw away from where she used to play as a child.
Alex’s continued impact in the game is felt strongly at her former schools. As a former pupil of both St Monica’s Primary School and Savio Salesian High School, she has often cited motivation throughout her school years as a catalyst for her career achievements.
In 2023, the England star officially became the first ever woman to be awarded the Freedom of Sefton. Alex joined fellow Bootle footballer Jamie Carragher and famous horse trainer Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain as the only three individuals on Sefton’s Honorary Freedom Scroll, which officially confirms her status as Freewoman of the Borough.
Speaking after the ceremony Alex said: “Bootle is home and I am immensely proud of where I come from. Bootle will always be my home no matter who I play for or where I play and I will never forget where I have come from.
“To receive this award is a really proud moment for me and my family. I hope this moment is a message that you can achieve your goals and I hope this encourages young girls from Sefton to want to play football and find those opportunities put there to get into sport.”
Jodie Comer
Jodie Comer has the world at her feet. The 32-year-old Scouser skyrocketed to stardom with her incredible performance as Villanelle in Killing Eve and she has been flying the flag for Liverpool ever since.
The influence of Jodie’s home city is just as strong now as it was when she was a pupil at St Julie’s School in Woolton. She told the ECHO: “I just feel like there’s such an essence of ‘Scouseness’, there’s a familiarity, there’s a warmth, there’s a vivaciousness. There’s something about feeling who I am as a person. It’s in every part of you, it’s the way that you carry yourself.”
It was being left out of the school talent show that put Jodie on the road to stardom. At 14, she was going to perform a dance routine from hit Broadway musical Chicago with school friends but after missing rehearsals to go on a family holiday, her pals kicked her out.
She chose to do a monologue instead – which lead to her being encouraged to pursue a career in acting. A drama teacher sent her to audition for a BBC Radio play, which went on to be her first professional acting job and her career has continued to go from strength to strength.
Stephen Graham
Stephen Graham was born in Kirkby and attended Overdale Primary School and Ruffwood Comprehensive. He was introduced to Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre at the age of 14, and trained at the Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance.
The actor previously told the ECHO: “School for me was important but I also had activities like at the Everyman Youth Theatre and that’s where I really excelled and learnt about my craft and that’s where I discovered what I wanted to do.”
While in primary school, Stephen performed so well in a school play, Treasure Island where he acted Hawkins, that his teacher recommended that he consider acting. Throughout his career, the This is England star has featured in tens of movies and played vital roles in TV series.
Steven Gerrard
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard attended Cardinal Heenan High School in West Derby. The desire and talent that made Gerrard the player he became, was evident in his school years.
Gerrard’s PE teacher Steve Monaghan said: “I joined Cardinal Heenan in 1991, the same year as Steven. I was told my team had a ‘good one’ and that much was clear from his very first game.
“It was Under-12s and we played against Savio in Bootle where Jamie Carragher attended. Steven scored one in a 4-0 win. He played in midfield and was one of the smallest on the pitch but I remember phoning my dad Frank that night and said, ‘Dad, next time you come down you’ve got to watch this lad. I’ve seen nothing like it.”
“I said if he didn’t make it then I didn’t know who could because he was phenomenal.” Steven Gerrard was born in May 1980 on the Bluebell Estate in Whiston and first played for Whiston Juniors.
In his acclaimed autobiography, Steve pays tribute to another teacher, Eric Chadwick, his PE teacher at Cardinal Heenan. The footballer went on to spend 17 remarkable years at Anfield.
Coleen Rooney
Coleen Rooney attended St John Bosco Arts College and left school with 10 GCSEs, including an A* for Performing Arts. She was also given the position of deputy head girl during her time at school.
The mum-of-four and Wayne started dating at 16, after both had left secondary school. According to the former Everton forward, she was a “goody who did her homework.” When Coleen was studying for her A-levels, Wayne made his England debut at 17 and proposed to her shortly after.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney attended both Our Lady and St Swithin’s primary school and De La Salle School in Liverpool. Rooney began playing for Liverpool Schoolboys and scored 72 goals in one season, a record which stood until May 2010.
At the age of nine, Rooney played for Copplehouse boys’ club in the local Walton and Kirkdale junior league and scored 99 goals in his final season before being spotted by Everton scout Bob Pendleton. Rooney joined Everton at age nine. Wayne, who was born in Croxteth, exploded onto the scene as a teenager with the Blues.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent attended St Mary’s in Crosby until he was 14, then he moved to Rainhill High School as part of his training with Liverpool FC’s academy.
Writing on the school’s website, Trent’s old physical education teacher at St Mary’s in Crosby can remember one of his first games.
Derek Williams said: “He was a centre forward for the football team and a full-back in rugby. He scored lots of goals and lots of tries.”
Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s academy in 2004 and captained the club across its youth levels. He made his senior debut in 2016, at age 18.
In 2025, after helping Liverpool to their second Premier League title, Alexander-Arnold joined La Liga club Real Madrid.
Mel C
Mel went to Fairfield High School in Widnes and has admitted to being a model pupil. She said: “I kept my head down and got on with it because I knew what I wanted to do once school was over.”
After leaving school at age 15, the Spice Girl studied for a diploma course in dance, singing, drama and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in Sidcup, Kent.
Born Melanie Chisholm, the singer was born and raised in Widnes. She has previously spoken about her love for Liverpool Football Club, saying: “I was a Liverpool fan before I was even born-most of my family are.” She left school in 1990 at 16 with 10 GCSEs.
Craig Charles
Craig went to West Derby school despite passing the 11 plus, because he wanted to go to the same school as his brother. Speaking about his school the Red Dwarf star said: “It was a very good school. It had good streams – and bad streams.”
On his qualifications he said: “I passed about six O-levels. You could take nine, perhaps I forgot to turn up. I did A-levels in History, Government & Politics, English Literature and General Studies.
“I was kicked out of the sixth form in the first year for breaking the dress code. ‘New Romantics’ were in, and I was wearing baggy red pants and Chinese slippers. I went to Childwall Hall College to finish my education, you could wear what you wanted.”
Stephen Bunting
Professional darts player Stephen Bunting attended Archbishop Beck Catholic College in Liverpool. He has made a name for himself on the darts circuit and is a popular figure among fans of the sport.
He has spoken about his time at school with his former secondary school. Last year, he said: “I loved my time at the college, the teachers were always very helpful and supportive. I mostly enjoyed English with Mrs Monaghan, she always had a story to tell and took a keen interest in my darts career at that time.”
He added: “It’s an easy sport to start playing, get a dart board and some darts and practice as much as you can. The more you play the better you will become. There are a few local academies now in Liverpool and St Helens, they are working hard to help bring the next generation to the game.”
James Nelson-Joyce
The This City is Ours star is among the best actors in the UK at the moment. He has stayed close to his local roots and is often pictured in his home town of Liverpool, enjoying bars and restaurants.
On how he first got into acting, he told YMLiverpool.com: “It was a bit of luck really. I was just a normal kid, playing football and that.
“I fancied my English teacher and the only way I could get her attention was by putting on an accent when she’d ask someone to read aloud in class.
“I didn’t know at the time that I was dyslexic and I felt uncomfortable reading, but I did it just to show off.” James attended Archbishop Beck High School in Liverpool.
It was the same English teacher who recognised his potential for acting, encouraging him to study at The City of Liverpool College.
Curtis Jones
Curtis Jones, the Liverpool and England footballer, is a former student of Rainhill High School. Rainhill High School is also known for having a strong connection with Liverpool FC, with other players including Raheem Sterling and Trent Alexander-Arnold having went there.
The Scouser has been with the club since U9 level and is now firmly established in the senior set-up. He scored his first senior goal in unforgettable fashion, curling in a stunning winner to beat Everton at Anfield in 2020.
Tina Malone
The Shameless star Tina attended Liverpool Institute High School for girls and Childwall College. Speaking to the ECHO about her schooldays, Tina said her favourite teacher was her drama teacher Mrs Bates.
Tina said: “She was the first person to show me Shakespeare and even though I was a bit of a rebel she believed in me. School was strict, academic, amazing.”
Her worst school moment was: “Being caught sunbathing in the school yard in just my bra by the headteacher.” Tina revealed her best school moment was going to Paris on a school trip.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Katarina Johnson-Thompson was born in Woolton on January 9 1993 to an English mum and Bahamian dad. She spent the first year of her life in Nassau with her dad after her parents separated, then returned to the UK to live with her mum in Halewood.
She attended St Julie’s Catholic High School and became close friends with future actress Jodie Comer before going on to study sports science at Liverpool John Moore University.
In heptathlon she is a double world champion, double Commonwealth Games champion and an Olympic and European silver medallist.